Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Reduces Mortality in Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections: Study

Necrotizing soft tissue infections are life-threatening conditions that require immediate medical attention usually leading to high mortality rates and significant morbidity among survivors. A recent analysis unveiled promising outcomes for the application of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) in treating Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections (NSTI) which is a severe bacterial infection that destroys tissues under the skin. The key findings of this study were published in the World Journal of Emergency Surgery.

The conventional treatment approach includes aggressive surgical debridement, antibiotics and supportive care. The potential of HBO therapy, which involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized room or chamber, has been a subject of medical interest for enhancing recovery and outcomes in NSTI patients. The comprehensive meta-analysis drew data from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library to ascertain the effectiveness of HBO when compared to standard treatments.

The study meticulously examined several observational trials which encompassed the data from a total of 49,152 patients, including 1,448 who underwent HBO therapy and 47,704 who received conventional care. The findings showed a significant reduction in the mortality rates among the patients treated with HBO, with a relative risk (RR) of 0.522 by indicating a 47.8% decrease in death rates when compared to those who did not receive HBO.

While the HBO group required a increased number of debridements to remove dead tissue, there was no significant difference in amputation rates that dispel concerns about the therapy leading to increased limb loss. The incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), a lethal complication of NSTI, was markedly lower in the HBO-treated group that suggests a substantial benefit in preventing critical complications.

These encouraging outcomes caution the evidence which primarily derived from retrospective studies that necessitates further validation through prospective research. The availability of HBO therapy which is not universally accessible across all healthcare facilities also poses a limitation to its widespread adoption. The study underscore the importance of individual patient assessment and timely surgical intervention to optimize treatment outcomes. Overall, the outcomes from this comprehensive analysis suggests a potential shift in the management of NSTI by advocating for the integration of HBO therapy as a complementary treatment strategy.

Reference:

Huang, C., Zhong, Y., Yue, C., He, B., Li, Y., & Li, J. (2023). The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the clinical outcomes of necrotizing soft tissue infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis. In World Journal of Emergency Surgery (Vol. 18, Issue 1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13017-023-00490-y